The Kl virus belongs with the ransomware type of malicious agent. It is recognized as member of Dharma/CrySis ransomware family. Malware of such sort encrypts all the data on your PC (images, text files, excel sheets, music, videos, etc) and appends its extra extension to every file, creating the info.txt files in each folder with the encrypted files.
Kl virus: what is known so far?
☝️ A strictly accurate denomination for the Kl is “a ransomware infection”.
The pattern of renaming is the following: [victim’s_ID][contact_email].kl. As a part of encryption, a file entitled, for example, “report.docx” will be turned into “report.docx.id-32CB317G1.[filekiller@onionmail.org].kl”.
In every folder with the encoded files, a info.txt text document will be found. It is a ransom money memo. It contains information on the ways of contacting the racketeers and some other information. The ransom note usually contains a description of how to purchase the decryption tool from the racketeers. You can obtain this decrypting software after contacting filekiller@onionmail.org through email. That is it.
Kl outline:
| Name | Kl Virus |
| Extension | .[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl |
| Ransomware note | info.txt |
| Contact | filekiller@onionmail.org |
| Detection | Ransom:Win32/StopCrypt.PAT!MTB, Win32/Injector.AAQK, Win32/TrojanDownloader.Vespula.AY |
| Symptoms | Your files (photos, videos, documents) get a .[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl extension and you can’t open them. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Kl virus |
In the picture below, you can see what a folder with files encrypted by the Kl looks like. Each filename has the “.[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl” extension added to it.
![Kl Virus - encrypted .[victim\'s_ID][contact_email].kl files](https://howtofix.guide/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Kl-files-virus.jpg)
That is how encrypted “.[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl” files look.
How did Kl ransomware end up on my PC?
There are plenty of possible ways of ransomware injection.
Nowadays, there are three most exploited ways for evil-doers to have the Kl virus working in your system. These are email spam, Trojan injection and peer-to-peer file transfer.
If you open your mailbox and see letters that look just like notifications from utility services providers, delivery agencies like FedEx, Internet providers, and whatnot, but whose addresser is strange to you, beware of opening those emails. They are very likely to have a malware file enclosed in them. Therefore, it is even more dangerous to open any attachments that come with letters like these.
Another option for ransom hunters is a Trojan horse model1. A Trojan is an object that infiltrates into your machine pretending to be something else. Imagine, you download an installer for some program you need or an update for some software. However, what is unpacked turns out to be a harmful agent that encrypts your data. Since the installation file can have any name and any icon, you have to make sure that you can trust the resource of the things you’re downloading. The optimal way is to trust the software companies’ official websites.
As for the peer-to-peer file transfer protocols like BitTorrent or eMule, the danger is that they are even more trust-based than the rest of the Web. You can never know what you download until you get it. Our suggestion is that you use trustworthy websites. Also, it is reasonable to scan the directory containing the downloaded objects with the antivirus as soon as the downloading is complete.
How do I get rid of the Kl virus?
It is important to inform you that besides encrypting your data, the Kl virus will most likely deploy the Azorult Spyware on your computer to get access to credentials to different accounts (including cryptocurrency wallets). The mentioned program can derive your credentials from your browser’s auto-filling cardfile.
Sometimes tamperers would unblock several of your files so you know that they indeed have the decryption tool. Since Kl virus is a relatively new ransomware, security software designers have not yet found a way to undo its work. However, the decoding instruments are frequently updated, so the effective countermeasure may soon arrive.
Sure thing, if the malefactors do the job of encrypting someone’s essential files, the desperate person will probably fulfill their demands. Nevertheless, paying to criminals gives no guarantee that you’re getting your blocked information back. It is still dangerous. After receiving the ransom, the racketeers may deliver a wrong decryption code to the injured party. There were reports about criminals simply vanishing after getting the ransom without even bothering to reply.
The optimal safety measure against ransomware is to have a system restore point or the copies of your critical files in the cloud storage or at least on an external storage. Of course, that might be not enough. Your most crucial thing could be that one you were working upon when it all started. But at least it is something. It is also reasonable to scan your PC for viruses with the antivirus program after the OS is rolled back.
Kl is not the only ransomware of its kind, since there are other specimens of ransomware out there that act in the same manner. For instance, Bbbw, Maiv, Cuag, and some others. The two main differences between them and the Kl are the ransom amount and the method of encryption. The rest is the same: documents become blocked, their extensions altered, ransom notes are created in every directory containing encoded files.
Some lucky users were able to decrypt the blocked files with the aid of the free software provided by anti-malware specialists. Sometimes the hackers mistakenly send the decryption code to the wronged in the ransom note. Such an epic fail allows the victim to restore the files. But of course, one should never rely on such a chance. Make no mistake, ransomware is a bandits’ tool to lay their hands on the money of their victims.
How сan I avert ransomware attack?
Kl ransomware doesn’t have a superpower, so as any similar malware.
You can protect your PC from its infiltration within several easy steps:
- Never open any letters from unknown mailboxes with unknown addresses, or with content that has likely no connection to something you are waiting for (can you win in a lottery without participating in it?). In case the email subject is likely something you are expecting, scrutinize all elements of the suspicious letter with caution. A hoax letter will always have mistakes.
- Do not use cracked or unknown software. Trojans are often distributed as a part of cracked software, most likely under the guise of “patch” which prevents the license check. But potentially dangerous programs are difficult to distinguish from trustworthy software, as trojans sometimes have the functionality you seek. Try searching for information about this software product on the anti-malware message boards, but the best way is not to use such software.
- And to be sure about the safety of the objects you downloaded, scan them with GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This program will be a powerful armor for your system.
Reasons why I would recommend GridinSoft2
There is no better way to recognize, remove and prevent ransomware than to use an anti-malware software from GridinSoft3.
Download Removal Tool.
You can download GridinSoft Anti-Malware by clicking the button below:
Run the setup file.
When setup file has finished downloading, double-click on the setup-antimalware-fix.exe file to install GridinSoft Anti-Malware on your PC.
An User Account Control asking you about to allow GridinSoft Anti-Malware to make changes to your device. So, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Press “Install” button.
Once installed, Anti-Malware will automatically run.
Wait for the Anti-Malware scan to complete.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware will automatically start scanning your computer for Kl infections and other malicious programs. This process can take a 20-30 minutes, so I suggest you periodically check on the status of the scan process.
Click on “Clean Now”.
When the scan has finished, you will see the list of infections that GridinSoft Anti-Malware has detected. To remove them click on the “Clean Now” button in right corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
🤔 Is it possible to open “.[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl” files?
Unfortunately, no. You need to decipher the “.[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl” files first. Then you will be able to open them.
🤔 I really need to decrypt those “.[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl” files ASAP. How can I do that?
If the “.[victim\’s_ID][contact_email].kl” files contain some really important information, then you probably have them backed up. If not, there is still a function of System Restore but it needs a Restore Point to be previously saved. The rest of the methods require patience.
🤔 You have advised using GridinSoft Anti-Malware to get rid of the Kl virus. Does it mean that all my files, currently encrypted, will be removed too?
Of course not. The encrypted files are not harmful, so they won’t be deleted.
GridinSoft Anti-Malware only deals with real viruses. The ransomware that has infected your device is most likely still active and launching checks from time to time to encode any new files you might create on your computer after the attack. As it has been said above, the Kl virus does not come alone. It installs backdoors and keyloggers that can take your account passwords by trespass and provide hackers with easy access to your PC after some time.
🤔 What actions should I take if the Kl virus has blocked my computer and I can’t get the activation key.
If that happened, you need to have a flash memory card with a previously installed Trojan Killer. Use Safe Mode to execute the procedure. The point is that the ransomware starts automatically as the system boots and encrypts any new files created or brought into your PC. To block this process – use Safe Mode, which allows only the essential programs to run upon system boot. Consider reading our manual on booting Windows in Safe Mode.
🤔 And what should I do now?
Many of the encrypted files might still be at your disposal
- If you sent or received your important files via email, you could still download them from your online mail server.
- You may have shared images or videos with your friends or relatives. Just ask them to send those images back to you.
- If you have initially got any of your files from the Web, you can try to do it again.
- Your messengers, social networks pages, and cloud storage might have all those files as well.
- It might be that you still have the needed files on your old computer, a laptop, cellphone, flash memory, etc.
HINT: You can use file recovery programs4 to get your lost data back since ransomware encodes the copies of your files, deleting the original ones. In the tutorial below, you can learn how to recover your files with PhotoRec, but be advised: you won’t be able to do it before you eradicate the virus with an anti-malware program.
Also, you can contact the following official fraud and scam sites to report this attack:
- In the United States: On Guard Online;
- In Canada: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre;
- In the United Kingdom: Action Fraud;
- In Australia: SCAMwatch;
- In New Zealand: Consumer Affairs Scams;
- In France: Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information;
- In Germany: Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik;
- In Ireland: An Garda Síochána;
To report the attack, you can contact local executive boards. For instance, if you live in USA, you can have a talk with FBI Local field office, IC3 or Secret Service.
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Brendan SmithHow to Remove KL Ransomware & Recover PC
Name: KL Virus
Description: KL Virus is a ransomware-type infections. This virus encrypts important personal files (video, photos, documents). The encrypted files can be tracked by a specific .[victim's_ID][contact_email].kl extension. So, you can't use them at all.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Virus
User Review
( votes)References
- You can read more on Trojans, their use and types in the Trojan-dedicated section of GridinSoft official website.
- GridinSoft Anti-Malware Review from HowToFix site: https://howtofix.guide/gridinsoft-anti-malware/
- More information about GridinSoft products: https://gridinsoft.com/comparison
- Here’s the list of Best Data Recovery Software Of 2023.
